Mullein Tea in Late June
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Everything is growing, blooming, and fruiting at a rapid pace! Not just in our gardens, but in the wild. This is the time to harvest medicinal plants that are starting to bloom or are blooming since the compounds that make them effective reach their peak just before they bloom.
Mullein is everywhere now. This beautiful plant was brought to this country by the Europeans for use as food and medicine. The native peoples here in North America quickly adopted the plant and it has been spread over most of the United States and Canada.
The leaves, roots and flowers are edible. However the seeds are not, and are, in fact, toxic.
Necessary disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor am I acting as a doctor. The following comments are for the entertainment and education of my dear readers.
Mullein is said to have a beneficial healing effect for skin issues like eczema, warts, boils, frostbite, and sunburn. Mullein can be infused in oil and the oil could be used directly, or compounded into a salve.
It is also supposed to help with internal issues like hemorrhoids, croup, and earache, as well as cold and flu symptoms. Mullein is best know for its use in helping with respiratory problems because it is a natural expectorant. It is also very soothing for coughs and sore throats.
I went out today to collect some Mullein to dehydrate. The process to make tea is very simple. Pick fresh looking Mullein stalks.
Pull or cut off the best looking leaves and pull off the yellow flowers. Wash the leaves to get rid of any friendly buggy hitchhikers!
Then chop or cut up the leaves. Dehydrate them until crispy, but don't use a very high heat. I'm dehydrating mine at 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you make your tea, use 1-2 tablespoons dried Mullein to a cup of water. Pour boiling water over the dried leaves and flowers. Let it steep for 10 - 15 minutes, and sweeten to taste, using honey or stevia. Because of the little hairs on the leaves, you will need to filter the tea with cheesecloth or a paper filter before you drink it. The little fuzzy hairs are unpleasant, and that is the voice of experience!!!
Have fun Prepping, my friends!
PS. Want to grow mullein? Here is a link for seeds!
PPS. Here is a link to the type of dehydrator I use: Magic Mill Dehydrators
PPPS. I'm an Amazon Affiliate. There are some Amazon links on this page, but you are not obligated to purchase anything. If you do, I get a very small commission. Thanks in advance.
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